MG Corporation: Unhappy members call for chair Lawford Benning’s removal at AGM

A power struggle is underway for control of an influential East Kimberley native title organisation that controls millions of dollars in benefits for Traditional Owners. A petition calling for the removal of MG Corporation executive chair Lawford Benning and the board of directors was circulated before a recent annual general meeting. The AGM had to be suspended when the petition organisers walked out and there was no longer a quorum to continue. Now MG Corporation board of directors have hit back by rescheduling the AGM for December 19 when they will call for a vote to cancel the memberships of petition organisers Donald “Duck” Chulung, Mary Baird and Candice Peart. For the special resolution to be passed they will need to gain 75 percent of the votes of members who are present and eligible. It is understood the trio will fight the vote. The attempt to oust the board stems from discontentment with the way money is being spent by the corporation. Petition organiser Candice Peart said she wanted an independent administrator to conduct a financial audit. The turmoil follows the resignation of General Manager Matt Smith who left on Friday November 10 for what he said were, “multiple reasons.” MG Corporation represents the native title claims of the Miriwoong and Gajirrabeng people and has major business and agricultural interests in the Ord Valley. They also operate some social services for disadvantaged families. It manages the benefits from a native title area that takes in large sections of the East Kimberley including the tourist and agricultural town of Kununurra. Last year’s AGM was also marred by controversy when police were called at the request of the MG Corporation to evict three members. Former MG Corporation director and native title organiser Donald Chulung was evicted by police from last year’s AGM. “People are still starving, they don’t have a house, they are not chasing any of that stuff,” he said. Mr Lawford could not be reached for comment after the AGM, however before the meeting he told The Kimberley Echo he expected it would be an uneventful. “It’s like any AGM, it’s like any business we have to do the job there will always be people for and against that is the world of business,” he said. He said his dissenters were, “Doing nothing good in this town.” MG Corporation members have made a complaint to The Office of the Registrar for Indigenous Corporations (ORIC).